The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a blow to the entertainment industry, including Marvel, which saw a hiatus in new MCU content in 2020. However, the studio returned in 2021 with eight projects released between cinemas and Disney+. During this time, Kevin Feige was reported as “very worried” about the future of the movie business and the theatrical side in particular.
Kevin Feige Learns The Hard Truth
Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, recently spoke to The Movie Business Podcast about his thoughts on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the movie industry, particularly on the theatrical side.
“I think that– you know… a couple of years ago, when we were in the heat of the pandemic, I was very worried, as we all were about the state of the world, about the future of civilization, and about the future of the movie business, and specifically the theatrical side of the business. Because I do believe that you can make incredible things that are meant to be seen in the comfort of your own home and tell a great a story as any.”
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Feige admitted to being concerned about the future of the movie business and the shared experience of being in a theater with hundreds of strangers.
“But I also think nothing beats the shared experience of being in a theater with hundreds of strangers experiencing something. And I think in today’s world, it is more important than ever to have some cultural crossover amongst different types of people to live in a shared experience together. And nothing does that better than the theatrical experience.“
Feige believes that nothing beats the experience of being in a movie theater and witnessing a film with hundreds of other people. He highlights the cultural crossover that comes with such a shared experience, stating that it is more important now than ever to have cultural exchange among different types of people.
The Importance Of Theatrical Experience
The Marvel Studio president has consistently maintained that big-budget blockbusters such as those in the MCU should be first viewed in theaters. This belief is supported by a 2021 poll in which roughly two-thirds of the respondents preferred watching Black Widow in a theater rather than at home.
The Marvel Boss acknowledged that while movies could be made for home viewing and still tell great stories, nothing compares to the shared experience of hundreds of strangers coming together to watch a movie in a theater. He pointed out that this experience has become even more important in today’s world, where there is a need for cultural crossover among different types of people.
Despite the absence of the Chinese market, Marvel Studios has been enjoying good box office returns since 2021. Fans and Marvel Studios prefer the big-screen experience to the extent that many would be disappointed if the studio were to abandon theaters for Disney+ releases hypothetically.
Feige’s comments highlight the importance of the shared movie-going experience and how it brings people together from all walks of life. With Marvel Studios’ next film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, set to hit theaters soon, it’s clear that Feige and the MCU remain committed to delivering their blockbusters to fans in the traditional theater setting.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is set to hit theaters on February 17.
